The Birat Gold Cup International Invitational Football Tournament, organized by the Birat Gold Cup Organizing Committee in Biratnagar, Morang, kicked off on Monday. In the opening match, Rijalco Morang DFA made a strong start by defeating Southern Samity FC from Kolkata, India, with a 3-2 victory at Shahid Stadium.
Match Summary
Morang took an early lead in the 11th minute when Abhishek Gurung scored a stunning goal from the edge of the penalty box, placing the ball into the top corner. However, Southern Samity responded quickly, equalizing in the 13th minute with a brilliant free-kick that goalkeeper Purna couldn’t reach despite diving for the ball.
Southern Samity gained the upper hand in the 33rd minute with a well-executed diving header inside the box, making the score 2-1. However, the match took a dramatic turn in the 34th minute when a foul inside the penalty box led to heated arguments between Southern Samity players and the referee. As a result, two Southern Samity players received red cards, reducing the team to nine men. The same foul resulted in a penalty for Morang, which Dorje Tamang successfully converted just before halftime, leveling the score at 2-2.
The decisive moment came in the 44th minute when Mausham Subba netted the winning goal for Morang. His contribution, including an assist to Abhishek Gurung and the match-winning goal, earned him the ‘Man of the Match’ award, along with a cash prize of NPR 11,000.
Upcoming Matches & Prize Details
With this win, Morang has secured a spot in the quarterfinals. The tournament will continue on Tuesday, featuring a match between Sudeva Delhi FC from India and APF FC from Kathmandu.
The competition will run until March 12 (Falgun 28), with the champion team set to receive NPR 1.1 million, while the runner-up will take home NPR 500,000. Additionally, the organizers have announced attractive individual awards for outstanding performances in the tournament.
